Goal: Overturn five day jail sentence for man convicted of downloading and viewing child pornography.

In an enraging turn of events, Brooklyn’s Judge Weinstein sentenced Raul Vasquez to five days in jail for downloading child pornography. He explains that imprisoning this man who is “remorseful” for his actions is not justice, and that penalties for child pornography are too extreme. This reasoning seems completely illogical. There is nothing more abhorrent than the exploitation of children. To allow a man who lives with his own children to get off with a slap on the wrist is insulting. Raul Vasquez is no role model and has no place around children. One could argue that he willfully and knowingly downloaded these videos, although he claims otherwise. Child porn is definitely not commonplace even on the internet. This irresponsibility for his own actions is even more condemning.

This sentence completely devalues the trauma those children faced. This enables the industry to continue and deviants to indulge in it. Mr. Vasques’ petty rationalizations should not release him of responsibility. No one is above the law, especially not a man who indulges in child exploitation.

While Mr. Vasquez claims he will “never do that again,” we all know that is unlikely. If he didn’t plan to watch child porn again, he wouldn’t have watched it before. Millions of people watch porn every day, and those millions aren’t all out downloading and viewing child porn “because they stumbled onto it.” Even on porn sites, it’s not something one can “just find,” it must be actively searched for.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Chief Justice Roberts,

In a recent ruling by Brooklyn’s Judge Weinstein, a man has practically walked free after downloading child pornography. This father, Raul Vasquez, expressed his regret for viewing child porn. He attempts to avoid responsibility for his actions by claiming he stumbled onto child porn accidentally while watching ‘other’ porn. This is unacceptable. Mr. Vasquez has contributed to the exploitation of children. Judge Weinstein is enabling this industry by claiming the consumption of child porn is not worthy of harsh penalties.

Overthrow this joke of a sentencing, send Mr. Vasquez to prison as he deserves. Do not let a man walk free merely for expressing his regret at committing an action he already knew was both illegal and horrifically damaging to children. Don’t allow watching child rape to become just a misdemeanor charge.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Bebeto Matthews

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One Comment

It seems very strange that when child porn provides often hide or only give access to “trusted” people who will not report that this has happened, anyone can use the excuse of just stumbling on it, why don’t they access his search history and computer history? Hope that the people behind the site were prosecuted but given Judge Weinstein’s attitudes towards this it seems unlikely, this attitude is almost as bad as those who watch it if they are excusing watching it?